The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-12-03

anu Sco Jll6 green SOOuSs his
proved to be at the top of high building in
another part of the town. Reaching them
he took big leather wallet from one of his
pockets and spread out on the table before
me number of new crisp greenbacks-
fives, tens, twenties and fifties. 1 exam
ined them with perfect amazement, never
having dreamed that counterfeiting could
be carried to such a pitch of perfection.
After l had carefully inspected the samples
Samuel remarked, in earnest tones:
| Now, l don't want YOU to take these
| goods solely on my representation. 1 al
ways treat my customers fair and square,
and don't wish them TO trade with me I'M
less they are perfectly satisfied that they
are getting the worth of their money. Sup
pose you go out on the street and test these
| goods. Here, take these" (handng me a
| five, ten and twenty Ego to bank or
brokers' Office and see if you have any
difficulty in changing them. That's con-
| elusive test of their merit, isn't it!'
| Ireplied that l didn't see how test
could be more satisfactory, and after little
urging did as Samuel suggested. Taking
| the twenty into brokers' office, not with
out trepidation, asked to be accommodated
| with four fives for it. The broker handed
| me four fves quicker than wink. Next |
went into bank, and producing my two
other samples inquired of the teller if they
| were good. He sharply scrutinized them
| and answered: Good as the wheat" That
settled it. l returned to Samuel quite pre-
pared to invest my entire $1,000 in his ex-
cellent green goods, bitterly regretting
| that hadn't my remaining $1,000 with me.
| ''Well," said Samuel, with the smile of
| confidence upon his face as l re-entered his
rooms, show did my goods stand the testf'
L made my report, whereupon he continued
with the air of Old Reliability himself:
'Pd scorn to bring man clear down from
Maine to purchase goods of me that were
not A No. l."
Well, after some further talk purchased
$4,000 OF the green goods of Samuel, pay
ing my $1,000 for them. He remarked at
this point that he was not accustomed to
give every customer that came along as
good terms as he offered me, but that he
had taken a great fancy to mo because |
reminded him of a pet cousin of his, great
favorite in society, who had died a few
years previous. With this he excused
himself, saying he would go and get me the
green goods. He was absent about half an
hour, and on his return counted out $40, 600
in my presence, most of them in twenties
and fifties. This done he placed the bills
in neat black sachel, which he generously
offered to give me without extra charge;
locked the sachcl and handed me the key,
remarking 'there you are" Then handed
over my thousand dollars. He counted the
money and carefully deposited it in an in
side pocket of his vest with the one word,
correct" Then he quietly observed in
tones OF fatherly solicitation: 'If l were
you I'd have that sachel sent to your ad-
dress in Maine by express. It's the safest
plan" While he was giving me this advice
there came knock on the door. Samuel
exclaimed in an excited whisper, "Place
your sachel in that closet over there and
keep mum-there's no telling who that is"
Accordingly l placed the sachel in the
closet and kept mum. The knock was re.
peated.
"Come in,' said SAMUEL. A mic blocking,
fashionably dressed gentleman entered,
who, on observing me, remarked, "Ah,
Samuel, see you have company, so / will
not stop now. Can l have a word with you?"
Samuel excused himself to me as politely
as you please, and, going to the door, con-
versed with his friend for few minutes.
Apparently the subject of their conversa-
ton was of an agreeable nature, for they
both laughed heartily. Presently Samuel
came back, told me one or two good stories,
and then suggested that we proceed to the
express office. l assented, whereupon he
went to the closet, returned with my sach-
ell, and we started out.
As we went along he cautioned me TO
take good care of the key and to keep
quiet tongue in my head. Having left the
sachel at the express office and got a re-
ceipt for it, | babe Samuel goodbye, cor
daily inviting him to come and see me if he
ever was in my part of Maine. l added
that | considered myself lucky man in
having made his acquaintance. 81 trust you
never may feel like altering your opinion"
he replied, with a wonderfully bright smile
| think | never met stranger who made
so favorable an impression on me. Well,
gentlemen, l see that you are all on a
broad grin, and the rest of this chap
ter Of my experience with Samuel | need
scarcely tell you. When l got home l
fastened to the express office, got my
precious black bag, and hurrying to my
room with it, locked the door and opened
it. ] still recollect how my mouth watered
as / turned the key. To my utter amaze
ment and furious indignation | found of
course that l had been taken in and done
for The bag contained nothing but pack.
ages of brown paper of the size of bank
notes. In flash | saw the true inwardness
of the swindle of which | was the victim.
had been shown genuine money by the
scoundrelly Samuel. The samples which
/ had taken to the brokers' office and the
bank were indeed as good as the wheat be-
cause they had been issued by Uncle Sam
"a very different individual from Sam
Hall. The closet in Samuel's room doubt
less could be entered from the hall. 1t was
so entered and the bag with waste paper
substituted for the one containing good
money. For an hour after making this dis
covery how did tear around that room
Great Scott! it was terrible. At length |
Gained down enough to consider what I'd
better do about it. Dread of ridicule and
the realization Of having been duped while
was endeavoring to acquire counterfeit
money forbade my laying the matter before
the police. At length l settled down on the
determination that would never rest until
had got even and little more with Sam
uel Hall.
Well, of course realized my determine
ton or | wouldn't be telling you this story
to-night--not much Within week of the
time was plundered l was back in Boston
disguised so that my own mother wouldn't
have recognized me. l managed to obtain
an agency for the sale Of soaps and per-
fumeries in order to have an excuse for
tramping all over the city and-entering all